Spock wrote:Basically, Canucks are praying that the current roster can play better.

Sounds like the definition of insanity to me.

We aren't Calgary yet, but getting there.....

I fear Spock may be right. I think our window to win is probably pretty much closed. Throw in the fact that we'll be in a tougher division and we'll be lucky to make the playoffs. I will be pleasantly surprised if the Nucks can make a mini-run in the playoffs.

With the Sedins up next season, it's probably best to go with a rebuild/youth movement. However, we have a bunch of veterans tied up with long-term contracts and no-trade clauses, so not sure if the rebuild can be done properly. I guess MG can always approach those guys and ask them if they'd be willing to waive their no-trades to certain teams. I hate to say it, but I don't expect much out of our team in the next few years. Hopefully we can keep adding some prospects and if we're lucky, we'll get a few diamonds in the rough and a couple of them will develop into top NHL players.

Mondi wrote:I love the no goaltending drama people. What happens when RL starts slow, Cory starts hot and the team comes out of the gate at a .500 clip?.

I will be elated. Our Canucks usually don't reach .500 until the 16-18 game mark, so .500 in the first 10 is a faster than usual start. And, the media will make mountains out of molehills, cuz that is how they get paid

Frankly I have no idea how we will do this year but I do want to point out a few things.

1. For most of the season we had 1 NHL center. Kesler only played 17 games. Lapierre was not doing his job very well and we had no 3 c all year. Only Henrik showed up but he was a major focus and MG did nothing to help.

2. AV may have lost the room as they didn't seem to have any fire when they did play. Perhaps a new voice will make a difference.

3. Injuries destroyed the chemistry between Booth and Kesler in effect leaving us with no 2nd line. So focus on the Sedins and shutdown the Canucks.

4. Kassian seemed to be in a fog. I put this down to AV's coaching. I think the kid was too afraid to do anything wrong.

5. I don't feel the love some of you have for Schroeder as he is too small for the NHL. I see Richardson as the 3rd C and Lain on the 4th.

6. I would like to see MG sign both Alberts and Fistric while allowing Corrado another year of development in Utica.

Topper wrote:Precisely why I'd be patient this year with a shuttle of Comet kids and the risk reward of them playing in the bigs.

Suffer a bit this upcoming season while nurturing and developing the young guns while hoping the cap goes up in the 2014 offseason, which has a wealth of awesome UFA's, some will re-sign of course but it should be a banner year to go after quantity and quality NHL free agents.

And a big IF the 2nd line remains relatively healthy, this team is helluva a lot more dangerous than it has shown lately.

Mondi wrote:All I'm saying is that Botch and Co. will construct a controversy from day 1 (even if none exists).

OMG "Botch" will construct a controversy. Your first mistake is reading/listening to idiots.
The Van media is among the dumbest in ANY sports town in North America.

I absolutely agree with you there. I started following all of those clowns on twitter to keep up with Canucks news and I can't handle some of the crap that flows from their brains on to a keyboard. Sometimes Botchford has a zinger or two but he and Macintyre are by far the most pessimistic make something out of nothing journalists I have read in my life!

As for the Canucks: I am still very optimistic heading into the year. I am not exactly a huge Torterella fan but I am going to have to learn to be. Nothing against AV but this team reeked of complacency the past couple of years and was in definite need of a shake up. Gone is the country club atmosphere from the core and gone is the lack of accountability from the veterans. I am not saying our core is unprofessional or immature, I just believe that AV and crew sometimes gave them too much leash to run with. I would say that it would be a fair statement to claim that the players were making or at the least influencing a lot of team decisions towards the end of AV's tenure.

I expect to see a few players excel and even surprise the fans under Torterella. Booth, Kassian, Garrison, Kesler and Hamhuis all come to mind. I feel that these players will all play better and put up better numbers under the new regime.

Hate to say I told you so but I have said for a few years there is a window and it is closing and for the past couple of years MG has been going after the wrong kind of FA. Always a $4M - $5M d - man when scoring was always the problem.

Right now I am a the glass is empty - depends at the end of the season and how they are playing will determine if there is anything in the glass and if so, is it piss water cheap liquor or will it be a good scotch worthy of someone like me.

My point was never that Botchford and Co. are great writers and journalist. It was merely that when, not if, this team comes out flat (at .500 or worse), they will be mired in a media-driven controversy. And, it has been proven year after year that the media in this town does get to the players.

Beyond that, the simple fact that they jettisoned a Vezina calibre goaltender (Brodeur himself said Cory is a top 5 goaltender in the league), and replaced him with an 18-year-old kid who isn't ready to play, should be enough to tell us all where this team is headed.

Add that to the fact that Lapierre has been replaced by Richardson, and Roy (although not tough but somewhat dynamic) has been replaced by no one.

You take a mediocre team and punt their 3L centre and #1 goalie, there is only one direction to go.